Detachable covers for temperature and like control devices



DETACHABLE COVERS FOR TEMPERATURE AND LIKE CONTROL DEVICES Filed Aug. 5, 1959 y 1961 M. J- CAPARONE ET AL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 30, 1961 Filed Aug. 3, 1959 M. J. CAPARONE ET AL DETACHABLE COVERS FOR TEMPERATURE AND LIKE CONTROL DEVICES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m 3 50 g i v 50 g 4 156 v i 56 166 .54 i I '1- 1 f 66 E1 United States Patent M DETACHABLE COVERS FOR TEMPERATURE AND LIKE CONTROL DEVICES Michael J. Caparone, Arcadia, and Theodore J. Dykzeul, Rolling Hills, Califi, assignors to Robertshaw-Fulton Controls Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 831,111

9 Claims. (Cl. 220-3.8)

This invention relates to covers for controls and similar devices which have a plurality of dials, knobs and the like protruding from the walls thereof and more particularly to detachable covers removable from a plurality of directions.

It is desirable in many control installations to enclose the control knobs which protrude from the walls of the control. The enclosure of these knobs enhances the appearance of the control and tends to discourage uninformed persons from tampering with a set condition. The smooth cover also provides a surface area for decorative treatment. However, in many installations, the control or other device must be installed in a position in which the cover cannot be removed by movement from the body in one direction or another. Hence, it is necessary that the cover be assembled and disassembled by movement relative to the body in a plurality of different directions.

It is an object of this invention to enclose protruding knobs on a control or similar device while rendering the enclosure adaptable for decorative treatment.

Another object of this invention is to facilitate assembly and disassembly by movement of the cover relative to the body in a plurality of directions.

Another object of this invention is to reduce the number of parts to a minimum and render the cover assembly economical to manufacture and install.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will appear more fully from a consideration of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

(Fig. l is a perspective view of a control device embodying the invention and showing the cover partly removed from one direction;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1 with the cover partly removed from another direction;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of a detail of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the detail shown in Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, the invention is shown in connection with a control device 10, such as a water heater temperature and flame failure control, comprising a substantially rectangular body 12 having a plurality of control knobs 14 and 16 protruding from its top surface 18. The opposite sides 20 of body 12 each have a shallow longitudinal recess 22 extending lengthwise from the top surface 18 from the front surface of the control device to approximately midway of the width of the sides 20. Each recess 22 terminates short of the base of the control device 10 defining longitudinal side faces 24 bounded by a longitudinal shoulder 26 and an adjoining bottom shoulder 28, respectively. A pair of spaced upper and lower rib-like projections 30 and 32 of preferably wedge-shaped cross section extend into each recess 22 respectively from side faces 24 and longitudinally in parallel relation to shoulder 28 but short of the shoulder 26. Projections 30 and 32 also have Patented May 30, 1961 inclined ends 34 and 36, respectively, and lower projections 32 are of higher elevation than projections 30 for purposes apparent hereinafter.

A cover 40 is provided for enclosing top surface 18 with its protruding knobs 14 and 16 and the front of body 12. Cover 40 comprises a shell of plastic or other flexible material and has a substantially rectangular lid portion 44 perpendicularly joined with a front portion 46.

As is best shown in Figs. 3 to 5, lid portion 44 has substantially the same outer dimensions as top surface '18 of body 12 and has a main wall means forming a crown portion 48 and a pair of depending side members 50. In the assembled position of cover 40, side members 50 are designed to space the crown portion 48 from top :surface 18 of the control device 10 to thereby enclose protruding control knobs 14 and 16. Lid portion 44 also has a plurality of reinforcing ribs 52 underlying the crown portion 48 to form a rigid lid construction which may be handled without damage when assembling and disassembling cover 40.

Front portion '46 includes a central panel 54 and a pair of side panels 56. Central panel 54 is constructed to en- ;close the front surface of body 12 and has an arcuate jcutout 58 in the bottom edge to accommodate a control knob 60 protruding from the front surface of body 12.

Longitudinal rear edges 62 respectively of side panels 56 are engageable each With the longitudinal shoulder 26 as the cover 40 is slid into position with its bottom engaging 30 shoulder 28 on each side 20 respectively.

An inwardly projecting rib 66 is formed along the edge 62 of each side panel 56. Each rib 66 is of wedge- ,shaped cross section and is constructed to extend between one of the projections 30 and 32 and the adjacent wall 26 when cover 40 is in its assembled position and edges 62 are engaging wall 26 as shown in 'Fig. 1. A

small boss 68 is formed on each of the side panels 56 Each boss 68 is poedge of each side panel 56 is in engagement with shoul- ,der 28, the boss 68 is positioned immediately below the lupper projection 30. 7

Thus, when cover 40 is in its assembled position, dis- :assembly of cover 40 by a forward pull is hindered by engagement of ribs 66 with projections 30 and 32.

Likewise, disassembly of cover 40 by an upward 'pull is hindered by engagement of bosses 68 with projections 30. Consequently, any disassembly movement of cover .40 by an angular pull between the horizontal and vertical will be hindered by a combined action of ribs 66 and'bosses 68. However, since the cover 40 is constructed of a thin flexible material, such as plastic, disassembly is possible by flexing cover 40 whereby ribs 66 land bosses 68 become disengaged from the hindering ele- 40 may be assembled to body 12. In Fig. l, the vertical ments.

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the various ways in which cover assembly method is shown whereby cover 40 is assembled 'by sliding it down from above with ribs 66 passing into ends 34, 36 and sides of projections 30 and 32 aid both assembly operations by causing a gradual flexing of cover 40 while the higher elevation of lower projections 32 provides for draft and the difference in the side panel rigidity between top and bottom.

Cover 40 can be disassembled by horizontal or vertical movements reversing the assembling movements. The natural resiliency of cover 40 permits ribs 66 and bosses 68 to move around the rib-like projections 30 and 32. Also, cover 40 can be assembled and disassembled by any combination of the horizontal and vertical movements described whereby a plurality of angles and directional movements may be used.

Since the cover assembly has great versatility in its assembly and disassembly movements, it may be employed in a great variety of installations where free space above or in front of the control device is limited. For example, in some water heater installations where the thermostatic control is recessed in a door compartment, it would be a distinct advantage to use a horizontal assembly and disassembly operation so as to avoid interference with the walls of the compartment.

It is to be understood that although only one embodiment of this invention has been shown and described for purposes of illustration, the invention can be variously embodied and changes may be made in the construction and arrangements of parts without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A detachable cover for control devices having opposite recessed side wall portions defining a pair of longitudinal walls and each being provided with at least one projection spaced from said walls respectively, said cover comprising a hollow shell of thin flexible material having a front and a pair of side wall portions connected to a lid portion, said pair of side wall portions each having a longitudinal rib adjacent the marginal edge thereof opposite said front wall portion and facing inwardly toward each other, each said rib being adapted to extend into the space between a related projection and the adjacent longitudinal wall, said cover being adapted to receive a projection between each said rib and said front wall portion for retaining said cover in position and being detachable by fiexing to cause each said rib to override the related projection.

2. A detachable cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said rib has inclined side walls to facilitate overriding the related projection.

3. A detachable cover as claimed in claim 2 wherein said pair of side walls have oppositely disposed protuberances each adapted to underlie a related projection to hinder removal of said cover in a direction toward said lid.

4. A detachable cover for control devices having a substantially rectangular body with a pair of recesses formed in opposite sides of said body respectively and defining a pair of longitudinal walls, a pair of spaced projections extending into each of said recesses from said opposite sides and being spaced from said walls, said cover including a lid portion and a side portion perpendicularly adjoining said lid portion, said side portion having a central wall member and a pair of sidewall members adapted to enclose said recesses respectively, each of said sidewall members having an edge adapted to engage one of said longitudinal walls respectively and having an inwardly project- 30 ing rib extending along a portion of said edge, each said inwardly projecting rib being adapted to engage the related pair of said spaced projections to hinder movement of said cover from an assembled position, said side portion being flexibly constructed whereby each said rib is adapted to override said related pair of said spaced projections during assembly and disassembly of said cover with respect to said body.

5. A detachable cover as claimed in claim 4 wherein said lid portion of said cover includes a main wall means constructed to overlie an adjoining side of said body between said longitudinal walls and a pair of spaced sidewall means perpendicularly adjoining said main wall means rearwardly of said sidewall members, said sidewall means being engageable with said adjoining side of said body when said cover is in its assembled position to space said main wall means therefrom.

6. A detachable assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein each of said longitudinal walls terminates in a shoulder intersecting each said longitudinal walls respectively at right angles, and each said sidewall member being constructed for engagement at a bottom edge thereof with said related shoulder respectively when said cover is in its assembled position to thereby position said cover.

7. A detachable cover as claimed in claim 6 wherein each said inwardly projecting rib extends along the portions of each said edge engageable with each of said longitudinal walls respectively said projections having a rib-like construction and extend perpendicularly to each of said longitudinal walls respectively and said inwardly projecting ribs projecting into the spaces between said projections and said walls whereby when said cover is in its assembled position said projections hinder movement of said cover in a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal walls.

8. A detachable cover as claimed in claim 7 including a protuberance on each of said pair of sidewall members extending inwardly therefrom, said protuberances being positioned so that when said cover is in its assembled position said protuberances are engageable with the innermost side of one of said rib-like projections on each of said opposite sides whereby disassembling movement of said cover from said body in a direction perpendicular to said shoulders is hindered by said protuberances engaging said one of said rib-like projections, said protuberances being movable around each of said one of said rib-like projections as said sidewall members flex during assembly and disassembly of said cover from said body.

9. A detachable cover as claimed in claim 8 wherein said riblike projections have tapered ends and sides whereby said sidewall members of said cover flex gradually during assembly and disassembly movement thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,669,447 Boyton et al. May 15, 1928 2,479,592 Tomczak Aug. 23, 1949 2,723,484 Nelson Nov. 15, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 488,806 Great Britain July 14, 1938 

